Method and System for Fault Protection in Communication Networks, Related Network and Computer Program Product

1. A method of providing fault protection of special purpose devices included in at least one communication network and performing respective functions comprising the steps of: providing a set of general purpose devices adapted to be configured to perform said respective functions; including in said special purpose devices a fault handler module; and in the presence of a function exposed to a faulty condition in any of said special purpose devices, applying at least one of said general purpose devices in performing said respective function exposed to said faulty condition by locating said faulty condition in the respective special purpose device by means of said fault handler module and issuing a request for a qeneral purpose device in said set to be applied in performing said function exposed to said faulty condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of substituting a faulty hardware function performed in one of said special purpose devices by means of a software function performed by a general purpose device in said set.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of transferring resources needed to perform said respective function exposed to a faulty condition to a general purpose device in said set.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising the steps of: configuring said general purpose devices in said set for resource sharing; and transferring resources needed to perform said respective function exposed to a faulty condition to a general purpose device in said set from another general purpose device in said set.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of arranging said set of general purpose devices in a distributed system.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of associating with said set of general purpose devices a distribution center storing code segments adapted to be transferred to said general purpose devices in said set to configure them to perform said respective functions exposed to said faulty condition.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising the steps of: configuring said distribution center for receiving from said special purpose devices requests indicative of a faulty condition in said special purpose devices; and upon receiving any said request, sending from said distribution center a set of code segments for performing a respective function exposed to said faulty condition to at least one general purpose device in said set thereby configuring said general purpose device to substitute the special purpose device exposed to said faulty condition in performing said respective functions.

8. A computer program product loadable in the memory of at least one computer and including software code portions capable of performing the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 and 2 to 7 .

9. A system for providing fault protection of special purpose devices included in at least one communication network and performing respective functions comprising a set of general purpose devices adapted to be configured to perform said respective functions in the presence of a function exposed to a faulty condition in any of said special purpose devices; wherein a fault handler module is included in each special purpose device for locating said faulty conditions in respective special purpose devices and issuing requests for a general purpose device in said set to be applied in performing said function exposed to said faulty condition.

10. The system of claim 9 , comprising software code portions in said set of general purpose devices, said software code portions being adapted to implement faulty hardware functions performed in at least one of said special purpose devices.

11. The system of claim 9 , comprising a communication facility adapted for transferring resources needed to perform said respective function exposed to a faulty condition to a general purpose device in said set.

12. The system of claim 9 , comprising said general purpose devices in said set configured for resource sharing, and a communication facility adapted for transferring resources needed to perform said respective function exposed to a faulty condition to a general purpose device in said set from another general purpose device in said set.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein said set of general purpose devices are arranged in a distributed system.

14. The system of claim 9 , comprising a distribution center storing code segments associated with said set of general purpose devices, said distribution center storing code segments adapted to be transferred to said general purpose devices in said set to configure them to perform said respective functions exposed to said faulty condition.

15. The system of claim 14 , comprising said distribution center configured for receiving from said special purpose devices requests indicative of a faulty condition in said special purpose devices, and, upon receiving any said request, sending from said distribution center a set of code segments for performing a respective function exposed to said faulty condition to at least one general purpose device in said set, thereby configuring said general purpose device to substitute the special purpose device exposed to said faulty condition in performing said respective functions.

16. A communication network having associated a fault protection system according to any one of claims 9 and 10 to 15 .